GLPA-LEAD Education Fund Programs

Women LEADing Michigan

Women LEADing Michigan is a skills-intensive professional development training program designed to prepare those who identify as a woman to pursue a career in political leadership roles.  This program provides a space to learn, network, and be vulnerable with other like minded individuals. It is designed to elevate and strengthen the vision, voice, power, of women leaders in Michigan. Women LEADing Michigan will be offered in the spring of 2024.


Basic Governance Trainings

Interested in local government and its functions? Join us to learn more about how local government functions, what a budget looks like, how to fight for diversity, equity and inclusion when serving locally and more.

  • School Board

  • City Council

  • City Clerk

  • County Commission

  • County Clerk

  • State Legislature

Ready To Ascend

Ready to Ascend is a skills-intensive, professional development training program designed to prepare BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent professionals who currently occupy non-management level positions within non-profit progressive advocacy and human service organizations, for future career advancement into leadership roles.

The training features trainers that are content experts in areas such as Budgeting and Finance, Coalition Building, Performance Management, and Strategic Planning.  Participants will receive the full schedule and meeting information upon acceptance to the program.

Participants should confer with their employers to ensure that there is no conflict with training dates and times. Applications for the program are now open for individuals to apply or for employers to nominate an employee.

Ready to ED

Ready to ED is a skills-intensive training program designed to systematically address the lack of equal representation of BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent people in executive leadership positions across the progressive advocacy community nationwide.

Ready to ED will prepare professionals who currently occupy mid-level positions within progressive, non-profit advocacy organizations, and others interested in future career advancement into executive roles. Expert facilitators, with an intentional focus on practitioners and role models from marginalized backgrounds, will serve as trainers, delivering content in one and two-hour time slots.